For most Buccaneers fans, the creamsicle uniform is a sense of joy and pride. Yes, the team was not generally good while wearing it, but that doesn’t stop the fans from celebrating their return each and every year. But how did that iconic color and sneering pirate logo come to be?

‍

After holding a contest to “name the team” after it was awarded to Tampa in 1974, Buccaneers won out over other choices like Sailors, Buzzards, and Coastal Tides. From there, they had to come up with a logo and team colors. It was April of 1975 when “Bucco Bruce” was first introduced to the world. A team press release was issued saying, in part;

“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will take the field in their inaugural National Football League season attired in colorful uniforms and sporting an emblem which are unique and exemplify the bold, brave spirit of the entire Tampa Bay area.

Orange, red and white have been selected as the club’s official colors. Orange was a natural choice because of the area’s citrus industry and the warmth of Florida’s sunshine. Red, too, is warm and lively. In heraldry, it is symbolic of courage and fortitude in battle.

The logo, designed by award-winning Tampa Tribune artist-cartoonist Lamar Sparkman depicts a handsome Buccaneer, wearing a rakish plumed hat, boldly winking and clenching a dagger between his teeth.

Artist Sparkman admitted that he sought a corsair of the cut of Errol Flynn, Jean LaFitte, or Musketeer D’Artagnon"

‍

To say that Bucs fans avoided disaster would be an understatement. Originally, the colors for the team were going to be green, red, and orange. Those plans were scrapped due to fear of the color combination being too similar to the nearby Miami Dolphins. And while Bucco Bruce had his fair share of insults thrown his way, legend has it that he was the choice selected after designer Lamar Sparkman showed it to some women and they found him more appealing than other options.

‍

For a long time, Bucco Bruce and the creamsicle uniforms were the butt of jokes as the Bucs had only three winning seasons wearing those uniforms until the change in 1997. It wasn’t until they went away that they became popular and missed. The one problem some fans still have with the uniforms, despite all the excitement, is that they’re allegedly cursed.

‍

Since the Bucs reintroduced the original uniforms in 2009, they are 1-4 in those throwback games with the one win coming in 2009 when Josh Freeman led a comeback victory over Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. Since then, the Bucs are 0-4 including last year’s loss to the Detroit Lions once the uniforms were brought back following the elimination of the NFL’s one helmet rule.

‍

In spite of the historical struggles and recent failures when wearing the uniforms, the city of Tampa and the Bay area has embraced this (hopefully) annual tradition by including a week-long celebration. There will even be a celebration on Friday in Midtown with a DJ playing music to fit the theme of ‘The Spirit of 1979” - which will be headlined on Sunday as members of the 1979 NFC Championship team will be recognized and honored during the game.

‍

‍

‍

Atlanta Falcons (4-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)

Sunday, October 27, 1:00 p.m. ET

Raymond James Stadium (capacity: 65,844)

Tampa, Florida

Television: FOX

TV Broadcast Team: Adam Amin (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst), Pam Oliver (reporter)

Radio: 98Rock (WXTB, 97.9 FM), Flagship Station

Radio Broadcast Team: Gene Deckerhoff (play-by-play), Dave Moore (analyst), T.J. Rives (reporter)

Spanish Radio: 96.1 Caliente

Spanish Radio Broadcast Team: Carlos Bohorquez (play-by-play), Martin Gramática (analyst)

‍

‍

‍